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The results of the vote to overturn the ban on commercial whaling are in.
The International Whaling Commission’s convention in Morocco, complete with 88 member nations meeting for debate and negotiations over the future of the whaling ban, ended with one conclusion: there isn’t one.
A mother whale and her calf hauled aboard a whaling ship. (Photo from the Brisbane Times.)
A deadlock between pro- and anti-whaling nations has led to frustration and anger on both sides of the debate at the IWC’s inefficacy, with the ultimate resolution being a postponement of the vote for another year.
The ban on commercial whaling remains in place, but has possibly become even weaker due to pro-whaling countries threatening to withdraw from the Commission altogether, thus releasing them from being bound by any regulations.
Anti-whaling countries, such as Australia, are preparing to take the issue over the authority of the IWC and take Japan to an international court over whaling practices in protected Antarctic whale breeding waters.
The ultimate question that must be asked is: are the whales safe, now that the whaling ban remains intact?
The answer is, unfortunately, far from simple.
While the result of the convention has preserved the whaling ban and successfully prevented the moratorium from being lifted, frustration with the IWC is at an all-time high, and it is likely that many nations will resort to escalation in their whaling practices.
The vote is now postponed for one year, and it is now more essential that the push is made for a strengthening of the ban, rather than maintaining the status quo.
It is clear that the whaling ban needs a major overhaul; the ability to enforce regulations is extremely weak and is riddled with loopholes, which has allowed Japan to increase illegal hunting by disguising the practice as research.
A Japanese whaling ship claims they are collecting tissue samples from a hunted whale. Whale meat for sale in supermarkets has been tracked to these "research" whaling ships. (Photo Credit: greenpeace.org)
The only solution is an all-or-nothing approach: the ban must either be strengthened and enforced so that all must abide by its decisions, or it must be eliminated. The latter option is a losing scenario for whale populations, as once the ban is lifted, it has historically been proven that whaling countries will exceed quotas and under report catches.
This is supported by the fact that whaling nations have, in anticipation of the reversal of the ban, have begun developing more consumer products derived from whales, such as golf balls, “eco-friendly” laundry detergent, hair dye, and more. Japan has also begun preparations to purchase its largest whaling ship in history.
It should be clear now, then, that the only way to truly save the whales is to strengthen the ban to the fullest extent possible.
The current resolution to maintain the current flawed ban only serves to encourage whaling nations to take advantage of loopholes even further. While this remains a preferable alternative to reversing the ban entirely, it does little to prevent whale populations that are already on the brink of extinction from being wiped out.
A hunted fin whale. (Photo Credit: In Defense Of Animals)
The battle is far from over, and whales are still at risk of extinction from illegal hunting.
The fact that the whaling ban has not been overturned is a small victory, but it must be emphasized that the ongoing debate is becoming more heated than ever before, and the push to end whaling must strengthen in response.
Again, I encourage you to join the anti-whaling efforts of many nations and organizations by visiting the following links. The future of whales is still undecided, but our ability to make a difference must not be underestimated.
Please look into the efforts of the following groups and see how you can continue to make a difference:
Disclaimer: Some images in this post are graphic.
On June 22, 2010, the International Whaling Commission and its delegates from 88 member nations will convene in Morocco for a final vote on ending the moratorium on whaling. The whaling ban, which has been in effect since 1986, is on the verge of being completely reversed. The implications of such a proposal, should it be realized, are significant.
The Japanese vessel Yushin Maru during a kill. Photo credit: AFP and Greenpeace
The whaling ban itself has had its fair share of criticisms: the act has made concessions for whaling that is conducted for “scientific research,” a loophole that has been abused with little to no repercussions.
In a twisted sort of logic, it is this abuse of the ban that has inspired the proposal to end the moratorium on commercial whaling. The International Whaling Commission, unable or unwilling to tackle the problem of the loopholes that have allowed whaling to go largely unchecked by such offenders as Japan, Iceland, and Norway, instead is proposing to reverse the ban as a “compromise.”
If you fail to see where the “compromise” is, you are not alone.
Those who support lifting the ban claim that doing so will be beneficial to whale populations. The basis for this claim lies in the idea that by legalizing commercial whaling, offending nations will no longer seek to take advantage of loopholes and will be more willing to follow international regulations.
The concept is not fooling many people; it amounts to rewarding the illegal actions of offending nations, and of course encouraging commercial whaling will have zero benefit to whale populations who are already on the brink of extinction.
A whale carcass being processed. Photo credit: Greenpeace
Prior to the whaling ban, there was nothing preventing countries from under-reporting their catches to fall within accepted quota limitations, as the Soviet Union was guilty of in the 1970s. There is little reassurance that this time around will be any different.
Shockingly, the United States is in support of the reversal of the ban, a complete turnaround from President Obama’s campaign promises to maintain the moratorium on whaling. Not only does the United States support the reversal, it plans on subsidizing the industry.
What this means is that should the ban be lifted, United States taxpayers will be footing the bill. If estimates are correct, such a plan will cost U.S. taxpayers in the tens of millions of dollars.
Aside from select native Alaskan communities, the United States has no national interest in whaling, and does not profit from the industry. Culturally, whaling is not something the Americans tend to approve of, nor should they. Whale meat contains extremely high concentrations of mercury, as it bioaccumulates throughout the food chain. For humans, such levels are toxic if consumed with regularity.
Canned whale meat. Photo by Alex Brooke, biotechlearn.org.nz
And yet, the United States is poised to subsidize commercial whaling; to what end, and to whose benefit?
Certainly not the benefit of the nearly wiped out whale populations, or the people whose health is at risk from mercury poisoning, or the monetary interest of American citizens who are already reeling in a recessed economy, and from the ongoing damage of the Gulf Oil Spill that shows no sign of ending.
In less than two weeks, the whaling industry could be digging into the pockets of American taxpayers, and destroying a true natural wonder that now, more than ever, needs protecting.
The only solution to this global crisis is by demanding that regulatory bodies are able to enforce the existing ban. Public awareness must be such that reversing the ban would stir global communities to action and demand that those who represent them keep their promises.
I urge you to become involved. The following links are to organizations that are involved in stopping this proposal. Make your voice against whaling heard, and your anger and frustration felt. It is time that our politicians and delegates act on our behalf.
- Avaaz.org – The World in Action is running a campaign to buy ad space and create handouts for the meeting in Morocco. Donations are accepted here.
- SaveTheWhalesNow.org has a petition you can sign, as well as other media and information for you to browse.
